Why you might want to do this...
If you have ever experienced the heartache of family upheaval after a funeral, you know why the Center for Intergenerational Communication was established. Such grief on top of grief is simply unnecessary when a resolution is so easily at hand. The simple fact of knowing the true wishes of the deceased and knowing exactly where those wishes are recorded dramatically reduces the opportunity for conflict.
As a Spokesperson for The CFIC, you will be empowered with that resolution. You will deliver the message and cause families to take action -- whether they buy any of the CFIC products you offer or not. Your purpose will be accomplished by creating awareness. And, enough people will find it too challenging to do what you are suggesting on their own and will seek your assistance and product. This makes you money without you having to sell. Just be available.
Existing professions who deal with estate planning generally stick with the mechanics of the law in this regard. It is rare that the interpersonal side of estate planning issues come up. You will be in a position to augment the efforts of these professionals. You will be trained to establish alliances with licenced professionals. You will be in a position to encourage your clients to see these professionals when necessary. It is quite likely that, if you follow the strategies we will outline for you, you will be someone to whom they will readily refer their clients, too. Your role in the relationship is to make sure that the results of the work performed by these professionals is readily available to a family in a time of need.
Legal and accounting professionals almost never focus on matters which lead to the greatest sources of stress on a family. The small things. Things never put into trust or mentioned in a will. Things a family needs to move quickly toward normalcy (passwords, pet disposition, hiding places, spare key locations and the like).
Facilitating a family's preparation for the loss of a loved one -- even 20 years before the fact -- can be wonderfully rewarding. The fact that you get paid to help families makes it all the better.
What is the position?
In the role of a Family Communication Consultant, you will represent the CFIC in an agreed geographic area. In so doing, you will give presentations to groups who have an interest in the subject of clear communication between generations, generally older family members and their adult children. This interest centers around end-of-life planning issues, but has practical implications for people of all ages (as was the case with Terri Schaivo who was in hr 30's)
Staff writers at the CFIC will prepare your scripts and slides. The marketing team will prepare you with a list of organizations which would welcome a guest speaker of a highly relevant topic. You will also be trained in proven strategies for getting invited to be on radio talk shows, local television and to get interviewed by local print media. Yet, you are the key asset. You may use our words or yours or a mix of the two.. If you qualify as a Family Communication Consultant, we will know you have the ability to perform the tasks necessary to represent the CFIC professionally and make a nice part-time and ever-growing income in the process.
Prerequisites
You will complete an application that will give us an understanding of your educational and work history. While there is no minimum qualification for either, they are considered in an overall view of you as a person who will represent the CFIC. You must have a thorough command of and articulate use of the English language. You will be asked to pass a common logic test (this allows us to understand the level at which you can perform without guidance.)
You must have a computer with speakers and a microphone (a $5.00 item, not broadcast quality) with high-speed Internet access and a laser (not inkjet) printer. You will also need a copy of Microsoft Excel (we will teach you what you need to do with it).
What tools do you get?
You will receive training over a five-week period that thoroughly prepares you to be a Family Consultant. You will gain a thorough understanding of the CFIC centerpiece product, From Here to Hereafter; Everything My Family Needs to Know (click on the title for more information). Your Family Consultant Manual will include thorough annotation for every page in the volume. This will prepare you to discuss the product intelligently, but in the context of educating rather than selling.
PLEASE NOTE: You are NOT going to be taught how to sell a product. You are going to be taught everything that is necessary to raise awareness of the importance of intergenerational communication and the significant family discomfort created by not communicating certain facts and wishes. You will be provided with real stories of families who were not prepared to lose a loved one and how not planning for that event created some level of havoc. You will likely have your own stories to add (everyone has at least one!) and your audiences will add others you can use. The result of this will be an entertaining presentation which will spur your audience to action. You will teach them how to do this without the CFIC product. The availability of the product, however, will seem to be an easy alternative to doing all of the research themselves. The result is that you will make sales immediately after your presentation. By leaving your business card (included in your materials), you will make additional sales, either in person or on-line, in the weeks after your presentation.
Further, by asking your audiences to become sustaining members of The CFIC ($15) so as to educate others in the importance of intergenerational communication, it will add credibility to your presentation (and add to your income). Even if members of your audience do not elect to join as Sustaining Members, they can receive free standard membership by simply filling out a contact form. You can use these forms for a drawing at the conclusion of your presnetation. The prize is a free copy of Here to Hereafter... This prize is provided to you for free for audiences of 25 or more.
Your manual and on-line classroom training will include lessons on public relations and marketing. When you have implemented these strategies, you will not only be in a position to represent your message and products, you will become a better known person in your community. This benefit alone can lead you into greater and greater opportunities, both representing CFIC products and other objectives you may have personally (say, run for City Council?).
Along with the manual and on-line classroom training, you will receive 500 business cards with your Family Communication Consultant designation and the CFIC website address (for those who want to order later). You will also receive ten fully collated copies of Here to Hereafter... (value $ 970) which will represent your initial inventory so you can be ready to make presentations as soon as your training is completed.
NOTE: Beyond your initial inventory, you will be trained in the production of this product yourself. This will allow you to increase your margins on future sales. Purchasing pre-packaged systems will always be available, if you so choose.
What is the tuition fee?
The training tuition as a Family Communication Consultant is $897. In this program, however, you will be given enough materials to regain your full investment and then some. Your net cost is zero (actually negative). Full tuition is due upon application and is fully refundable if your application is not accepted after interviewing and testing. You will receive your training materials and a sample system immediately upon the acceptance of your application. The balance of your inventory will be shipped upon completion of training. Should you have the opportunity to make a volume sale during your trianing, special arrangements will be made to meet your needs.
How do I make money?
As a Family Communication Consultant you will be taught how to become a well known member of your community. As a result you will be invited to be a speaker at various functions in your community such as service club meetings (e.g. Rotary) or elder care facilities. Libraries and community centers also sponsor speakers who deliver a helpful message.
When you sell the copyrighted system From Here to Hereafter; Everything My Family Needs to Know you will keep $45 from each $97 sale. A typical presentation to a group of 50 should result in 5 to 10 sales immediately (depending on the audience and your effectiveness) and additional sales later from those who respond to CFIC newsletters or who pass your card on to others.